Follow Us

More

'Jaws' & 'Jurassic Park' Trilogy Coming Soon to Blu-ray [Updated]

[Update: We've received official info from Universal regarding the Jurassic Park Blu-rays - including a trailer and the official release date. Scroll down for the full details.]

Steven Spielberg fans have yet another reason to rejoice as his name continues to dominate headlines this early summer. Between War Horse, The Adventures of Tintin, Super 8, Lincoln, Falling Skies and more, we've seen the legendary filmmaker everywhere these days. But the latest headline is a much-anticipated blast from the past, as two of his greatest cinematic achievements - Jawsand Jurassic Park are coming to Blu-ray.

Some consider Jaws to be the first true blockbuster in cinema as the studio made drastic moves to present it in the most theaters possible in the summer of 1975. It also launched Spielberg's career into the iconic status we know him for today, as he was hired to direct the film even before his debut film, The Sugarland Express, had been released. What followed was a string of films each as memorable as the next. Just under twenty years later his Jurassic Park trilogy was born. Just under twenty years after that, these two films reach the current pinnacle of home entertainment.

Many filmmakers have used the Blu-ray transfer process as an opportunity to cover up old mistakes like wires in a shot or composition mistakes. While Spielberg has tried this to some extent in previous Blu-ray releases, he has vowed to never again alter his work. In a recent interview with Ain't It Cool News, Spielberg discussed the true staying power of cinema and how Blu-ray can diminish the wonders of movie-making.

"(In the future) there’s going to be no more digital enhancements or digital additions to anything based on any film I direct. I’m not going to do any corrections digitally to even wires that show. If 1941 comes on Blu-Ray I’m not going to go back and take the wires out because the Blu-Ray will bring the wires out that are guiding the airplane down Hollywood Blvd. At this point right now I think letting movies exist in the era, with all the flaws and all of the flourishes, is a wonderful way to mark time and mark history... If somebody put out George Pal’s War of the Worlds and took the strings off the machines I’d be very upset. When that machine crashes in downtown Hollywood, and you see the strings going from taut to slack, that’s the thing that allows me to both understand this movie is scaring the hell out of me and at the same time this movie is a creation of the human race."

It has felt like forever waiting for Spielberg to bring his movies to the Blu-ray format. Last year, we listed ten movies that need a Blu-ray release and the list has progressively dwindled as all but a select couple have made the upgrade. With Once Upon A Time In The West reaching Blu-ray just last week and Jaws and the Jurassic Park trilogy coming soon, few remain solely on DVD and other "ancient" formats.

While Spielberg's Jaws Blu-ray announcement is exciting, we still do not have a release date yet. Though his comments imply it might be available later this year:

"I've already seen some of it. I don't have a date yet, but there's a Blu-ray absolutely in the works."

As for the Jurassic Park trilogy, the scheduled release date is October 25th, 2011 in foreign markets, but there have been only unconfirmed reports that it will make its American release that day as well. It is possible American Blu-ray owners will have to wait a short while longer. As news unfolds, we will update this story accordingly.

Some have said Blu-ray doesn't actually affect the look of movies, but we've written countless articles arguing for the technology. Another nail in they naysayers' coffin is the stampede of filmmakers rushing to the format for their classic movies. If Blu-ray was not a superior format, Steven Spielberg would not be progressively bringing his entire collection to it and Stanley Kubrick's career would not have been honored with last week's massive box set release. We are in a time where Blu-ray is taking over and every additional title that reaches the format via transfer solidifies its place in home entertainment. Now is the time to start growing your Blu-ray collection, and what better way to start by grabbingJurassic Park and Jaws.

Update:

Universal Studios has sent out an official press confirming that the Jurassic Park blu-rays will also arrive in America on October 25th.

Check out the Jurassic Park trilogy release trailer below:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOrOTlOgflM

Will you be one of the first in line to pick up a copy of these titles?